WebNovels

Chapter 16 - Food Crisis

The next day, the people of the territory rose early. Under Ryan and Tucker's lead, they returned to work, cutting logs, hauling timber, and continuing the construction of new cabins.

Inside his tent, Lucien sat at a table, quill in hand, carefully writing down everything he knew about Zorua, its typing, its special Ability, its potential evolution, and even notes on its habits.

"Your Highness Lucien, are you inside?"

Anna's voice called from outside.

"Come in," Lucien replied.

The flap lifted, and Anna entered, holding Zorua in her arms.

"Did you sleep well last night?" Lucien asked casually, glancing at the fox Pokémon. It seemed fully recovered.

"Yeah!" Anna nodded eagerly. The night before, her mother, though still frightened of the little monster, had nevertheless cooked them warm oatmeal porridge. Anna had slept hugging Zorua, its fluffy fur against her cheek. It had been the most comforting sleep she'd had in a long time.

Lucien chuckled. "It looks like you two are getting along well."

"Your Highness, do you… have an important mission for me today?" Anna's eyes sparkled. She was eager to be useful to him.

Instead of answering directly, Lucien asked, "Anna, what do you think of creatures like these so-called 'monsters'?"

"Huh?" Anna blinked. She lowered her head, looked at the Pokémon in her arms, and thought hard before replying. "Monsters… are very scary. They can spit fire or water, soar through the sky, burrow into the earth… and they hurt people. But…"

"But your little one is different, isn't it?" Lucien prompted.

"Yes!" Anna nodded vigorously. "My little monster is the best! Because… it protects me."

Lucien's smile deepened. "This world is vast, and our kingdom of Aindook is only a tiny corner of it. Magical beasts are just as much a part of the world as we are. In some ways, they're like humans: they have feelings, gratitude, and intelligence. They can even understand us."

Anna's eyes widened.

"Have you ever imagined," Lucien continued, "a world where humans and Magical beasts live side by side? Where Fire-type Magical beasts help light stoves, Water-types put out fires, strong Magical beasts haul goods, and Flying-types carry messages across the skies? A city where humans and Magical beasts live together… like family."

Any adult would have scoffed at such a vision. To them, it was unthinkable how terrifying creatures could coexist with mankind?

But Anna, still a ten-year-old child, could believe it. After all, she had met one already, a little monster who had risked its life to protect her.

"Your Highness Lucien…" she whispered. "Does that mean… this little one and I are family, too?"

Lucien nodded. "It already sees you as its most important person. Otherwise, it wouldn't have stood against the bear yesterday."

"Little one…" Anna hugged it tighter, her chest swelling with emotion.

"Zorua."

"Huh?" Anna blinked.

"Zorua," Lucien repeated with a small smile, looking at the fox Pokémon in her arms. "That's its name, Zorua."

"Zorua…" Anna murmured softly, testing the sound.

Sure enough, the little fox lifted its head and met her gaze.

"Also," Lucien said, "this is information I copied down from a book some time ago. Perhaps it will help you understand Zorua better."

He handed Anna the parchment he had just filled with neat rows of writing.

"Take good care of Zorua," Lucien instructed. "That's the task I'm giving you."

"Huh?!" Anna froze.

She lowered her gaze to the parchment in her hands.

'Attributes… Abilities… moves…'

'What did any of that even mean?'

Biting her lip, she looked back up at the young lord in front of her with pleading eyes.

But Lucien showed no sign of explaining further.

At that moment, the old butler Elif requested an audience.

Lucien waved Anna off. "Alright, let's stop here for today. If there's anything you don't understand on that parchment, ask Zorua first. Perhaps he can show you the answer. When the two of you understand each other better, come back to me."

Anna looked bewildered, but nodded firmly. "Yes!"

She hugged Zorua close and left the tent, parchment clutched tightly in her small hands.

Once she was gone, Elif entered, worry etched across his face.

"Your Highness Lucien, there's something that troubles me deeply," the butler said.

"What is it?" Lucien asked.

Elif hesitated. "Our food stores will only last until February. If supplies run out by then, I fear…"

He trailed off, but Lucien understood.

It was a problem he had thought about before, though recent events had pushed it aside.

He tapped his fingers against the table in thought. Then, recalling the caravan's cargo, he remembered: they had brought seeds, several kinds that might be able to grow in winter.

"I recall there are farmers among our people, yes?" Lucien asked.

"That's right," Elif confirmed.

"Have them come here."

"At once, Your Highness."

The butler hurried off and soon returned, leading in several dark-skinned men with rough, calloused hands.

"These are experienced farmers," Elif introduced.

Lucien brought out the batch of seeds. "Take a look. Tell me if any of these can be planted in this season."

The farmers stepped forward, examining the seeds carefully. Finally, one spoke.

"Your Excellency, these rye, white radish, potato, and wheat seeds can be sown now. But…"

"But what?" Lucien asked.

The oldest farmer rubbed his beard. "The land here is untouched wasteland. To cultivate it, we'll need time. The weeds and shrubs must be cleared, the soil plowed and loosened, before planting can even begin."

Another farmer's face darkened with worry. "Even if we plant these now, we won't see a harvest until May. That means we'll still be without food for at least three months… and without fertilizer, the yield will be poor."

The words weighed heavily on everyone present.

Lucien sank into thought.

It was a serious problem indeed.

If only there were Grass-type Pokémon in the territory.

In the Pokémon world, Grass-type energy was special. It could substitute for fertilizer, enrich the soil, and, when cultivated daily, accelerate crop growth. With their help, winter farming might have been possible.

But in the depths of this frozen season, not a single Grass-type was to be found.

Lucien's mind spun with alternatives.

'Foraging berries… catching fish and preserving them as salted stock… searching for wild fruit that might survive the frost…'

His thoughts were abruptly cut short.

"Help!"

"It's a monster!"

"A monster has broken in!"

The shouts came from outside the camp, filled with terror.

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